Engineering Student Projects Center (ESPC)

Hands-on exploration and fabrication of engineering designs and solutions to problems posed in the Engineering Fundamentals core curriculum are encouraged in the Engineering Student Project Center (ESPC).

The space is designed to encourage creativity and collaboration among engineering students and design teams, and provides students with an open work space, tools for manufacturing, and finishing.

The laboratory is prominently used during the very first class taken by all engineering majors, EGR 101 (Introduction to Engineering); students are engaged in the design and fabrication of solutions to a multitude of projects that include contemporary design issues, community service, assistive devices, and competitive challenges. Other required common first year engineering courses, such as EGR 115 and EGR 120, also utilize the space.

The ESPC is available to all undergraduate engineering students involved in an ERAU engineering club and personal projects. The lab is run by the Engineering Fundamentals Program Coordinator, and is monitored by a graduate lab assistant (GLA); all use of the ESPC must be approved by one of these individuals. The use of any power equipment is only permitted after students have received safety training on the use of the equipment, including the Standard Operating Procedures, after which, the students can operate any equipment while under the supervision of the GLA.

This laboratory is the primary home of several engineering design teams and student organizations, including the student chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)’s Design-Build-Fly and the Experimental Rocket Propulsion Lab (ERPL).

Equipment

• Floor model drill press, ½ inch capacity
• 2 bench top drill presses, ½ capacity
• Bench vise
• Floor model band saw, 12-inch throat ( wood and plastic cutting only)
• Bench top band saw, 6-inch throat (wood and plastic cutting only)
• 4 x 36 inch belt sander with an 8-inch disc sanding pad
• 2 cordless drills
• 2 cordless Dremmel tools
• Portable band saw
• Shop vacuum
• Tool crib containing assorted hand tools including, screw drivers, plyers, sockets, wrenches, clamps, saws, and misalliance hardware
• 14 lockable storage cages for students to lease for projects